Nester, Florence Ellen Shomaker

Florence Shomaker Nester, 88, formerly of Wythe County, passed away Friday, April 22, 2011, in Lewis Gale Hospital Pulaski. She spent her life being a devoted daughter, sister, wife, mother, Nana, great Nana and friend to those who loved and cherished her life. She lived a life of servitude to her family, her community and her Lord. Born July 10, 1922 in Russell County, she was the second of nine children born to Frank Shomaker and Fern Towe Shomaker. She was the wife of Harry Thomas Nester Sr. for nearly 60 years, also deceased. She was the mother of three children and their spouses, Marfesa Clark and husband, Richard, of Shiloh, Denise Russell and husband, C.W., of Wythe County, and Harry T. Nester Jr. and wife, Sheron, of Dublin. She was the Nana of seven grandchildren and their spouses, Brian Clark and wife, Amber, April Lovern and husband, Jeremie, Harry T. Nester III and wife, Danielle, Philip Russell and wife, Neeley, John Nester and his fiancee, Beth Van Schoyck, William Nester, and Brice Clark; and was the Great Nana of six great-grandchildren, Andrew, Landon and Ethan Clark, Camden and Olivia Lovern, and Sophia Russell; and three very special Christian friends, Betty Hughes, Jean Wall and Ruth Bowling, of Pulaski. Her life and service touched four generations of family and many friends where her life will continue to leave a lasting impression from generation to generation to come. She is also preceded in death by two brothers, William (Bill) and Kirt Shomaker; and two sisters, Virginia Cox and Carolyn Hanks. She had a deep-seated faith and love for God and lived a life of service to others. Her life was filled with grace, dignity and charity and many, many years of rewarding service to others. As young woman and mother, she was a faithful member of and raised her children in the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Pulaski, where she was a Sabbath School teacher and was over the children’s program. In her later years she enjoyed worshiping the Lord with fellow believers of Christ in a variety of churches. After graduation from high school, she moved to North Carolina to work with homeless children in an orphanage, later working for Fairchild Aircraft during the war to support the troops, then returning to Virginia to work for the arsenal to assemble products for the war efforts. After the war, she purchased land for her parents in Wythe County to build and helped operate a grill which was a popular place for returning veterans and where she met her husband of nearly 60 years, also just having returning from service. After the war, she married and supported her husband with a turkey business in West Virginia, returning to Virginia to raise her family. Only after her children were older did she return to the workplace to work as a special education aide in Wythe County Schools and later as a hospital emergency room assistant. During these working years, she and her husband also operated a small farm where livestock were raised with great care and food was grown organically. One of her special joys was to gather the organic food from their richly cultivated gardens then freeze, can and/or prepare it for her family. Dinner was a time of pride and joy and special praise and thanks for healthy produce grown from specially prepared ground. Visitors, family members, and neighbors often spoke of the exceptionally good taste and flavor of food grown from their many organic gardens. Among her busy schedule, she always found time to pursue her passion for painting. Her artistic ability is evident in the variety of artistic landscapes of family home places, local historic pictures, and still life of beautiful flowers on a variety of paint medium. She embraced and lived her belief that each day is a gift from God and should be used productively, to love others and to honor her Lord. Flowers will be appreciated, but for those who wish, they may make memorial contributions in her memory to St. Jude Tribute Program, P.O. Box 1000, Dept. 142, Memphis, TN 38148. Funeral services will be held 7:30 p.m. Monday April 25, 2011, at Seagle Funeral Home with the Rev. Mike Ingo officiating. Graveside services will be held 11 a.m. Tuesday April 26, 2011, at the Sayers-Oglesby Cemetery in Draper. The family will receive friends Monday evening at the funeral home from 6 until the 7:30 p.m. service time. Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.seaglefuneralhome.com. Arrangements are being conducted by Seagle Funeral Home, Pulaski, 540-980-1700.